Device for printing and nonprinting as controlled by comparison of dates



Feb. 10, 1953 rr o -r 2,627,805

DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES Filed June 4, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 CUSTOMER NO. STREET ADDRESS CUSTOMER NO. NAME CARD /;JST NQ DESCRIPTION UNIT DATE QUAN- PQTEE AMUUNT R n n n n x n n u o n n u u n 1 n n n 2 n n n 3 '-/0 4 I] l] 5 an n n n n 6 n 7 u n n N a n u an I! I! CUSTOMER NO. CITY AND STATE CUSTOMER NO. STREET ADDRESS n CUSTOMER NO. NAME CARD /2 f T6 [213T N0 nurillpflml U3" DATEv QUAN PRICE AMOUNT x nu unn /4 u 0 i1 .0 I! I] U I] [1|] 1 n 2 l1 n D I] U k 5 l1 l0 4 [1 [l U B-- 3 5D [1 l1 6 l1 D [In D j 7 n I a n n I 9 u l INVENTOR p HARE/TFORT WZ z; 4 ATTORNEY Feb.'10 19153 H. A. REITFORT 2 62 5 DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES ,Filed June 4, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 wg DEJ'OQ/PNOA/ (/7107 95 25 (gm/v. Pe/CE flMOl/fl /T 5:2 0% 5760 NOTEBOOK 002 82048 10 240 2400 E0 oi 5760 PENCIL 002 7104s 48 96020 1 Q1 5760 INK BTL 5 54a 27 810 0 oi 5760 RULE SLIDE EA. 6148 10 1350 13500 0 511 17670 i0 1 l \7 03 oi 0 0! 0 0% i0 03 go 03 i 0 o: 5760 BROWN ENGINEERING c0 50 0% MAIN STREET F 50 0g RIVERDALE NEW YORK\/ 1 9 aiyae/pr/on/ 0/107 0295? 0mm 02/05 Alma/v7 1 0: #7171552 0475 so oi 9875 ERAS ERF] BOX 15 70 1050 :0 0 9875 PAD RULED 002 15 27 V 02% COMP 55 EA W w C K H.4- RE/TFORT ATTORNEY A. REITFORT H. DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS FIG- 5- CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES v mzON Z OL H $220 Feb. 10, 1953 Filed June 4, 1949 Feb. 10, 1953 H. A. REITFORT 2,627,805

DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES Filed June 4, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 f ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1953 H A. REITFORT 2,627,805

DEVICE FOR PINTING AND NONPRINTING AS CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES Filed June 4, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,INVENTOR 5 MA. RE ITFORTI' FIG b 2 W5 g g ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1953' H. A. RElTFORT 2,627,805

DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES INVENTOR H.A. RE/TFORT FIG- 5c- ATTORNEY H. A. REITFORT 1953 DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS 2,627,805

CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON OF DATES Filed June 4, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR H. 4. RE/ TFOR T BY & ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 DEVICE FOR PRINTING AND NONPRINTING AS CONTROLLED BY COMPARISON DATES Henry A. Reitfort, Vestal, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 4, 1949, Serial No. 97,212

Claims.

This invention relates generaly to improved record feeding and printing devices and more particularly to control means for effecting the printing and feeding of ledger sheets under control of machine control records. The main purpose is to analyze groups of record cards and select therefrom certain data to be printed on ledger sheets, said sheets being advanced according to the comparison data of said record cards.

An object of the invention is to provide a sequence control means for comparing data of groups of record cards and for selectively printing the data contained in certain of said record cards. The device is controlled by record cards arranged in groups of related heading and detail cards, each of said detail cards bearing data such as customer number, description of item, price, and order date. The purpose is to determine whether the order date on each item card is earlier than, the same as, or later than a preselected date set up in the tabulating machine and to cause printing of information from all item cards bearing an order date that is earlier by one month or more than said preselected date, and to suppress printing of information from the item cards bearing an order date that is the same as or later than said pre-selected date.

Another object of the invention is to provide means under control of said sequence control means for controlling the operation of sheet feeding devices according to the comparison of data on said record cards. A particular requirement is to effect a skipping operation from the body portion of a ledger sheet to the inverted heading portion of the same form when one or more items have been listed, and to suppress line spacing, skipping, or ejection when no items are listed at all. In previous applications the ledger sheet would be line spaced and the heading printed regardless of Whether or not items were listed in the body portion of said sheet, the suppression of line spacing and printing occurring only when detail cards of a group of cards were missing.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings: V

Fig. 1 shows a series of perforated record cards related to the first two groups of a series of accounts.

Fig 2 shows an example of bill form portions of a record strip printed under control of the first and second groups of cards shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central section of the printing mechanism of an alphabetical tabulating machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the top portion of the typehead showing the arrangement of the type elements thereon.

Fig. 4a is a side elevation view of the strip feed controls.

Figs. 5a-5c, when taken together, form a wiring diagram of pertinent portions of the tabulating machine and automatic carriage, with the special control wiring shown in heavy lines.

The feeding controls are illustrated in co-orv control is exercised by a sequence of record' cards perforated to represent items and amounts to be recorded, accumulated, totaled and charged to the various customers, in combination with other cards perforated to represent related heading data such as names and addresses. Sucha sequence of cards is shown in Fig. 1 and the cards there represented are used to control the printing on two successive forms, such as those shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the continuous strip comprises a series of inverted forms R whereon the items, amounts, etc., are printed in the upper portion of each form and the heading or name and address is printed on the bottom portion. In this application it is desired to bill only those customers who are behind one month or more in their payments and hence we selectively list certain items in the upper portion of said form from item cards bearing a date that is one or more month earlier than the previously mentioned pre-selected date. When the items of a group have been listed, the tabulating machine will be conditioned to take a total and print the total on the next line after the last listed item. The carriage will then be conditioned for skipping to bring the bottom portion of said form into printing position for entering the name and address from related heading cards. After the heading has been printed the carriage will be conditioned to eject the first form R and bring the first item line of the second form into printing position.

It should be noted that the item cards and heading cards of a particular customer bear the same customer number indicated at C on form R, Fig. 2. The item cards and heading cards of a second customer will bear a different customer number as indicated at C. The carriage will be conditioned to eject from the last heading line H of the first form R to the first item line I of the second form upon the detection of a change in customer number.

Referring to the cards in Fig.1 and reading them from bottom to top, it is noted that the cards in the first group G do not coincide in number with the lines of recording on the first form R in Fig. 2. This condition is a result of selective listing and will be explained in detail later. Then it is also noted that all heading cards I are distinguished from the detail cards I I by X punchings identified by the reference numeral. I2. Upon the detection of a change from no X cards to X cards between the last item card and the first heading card of a group, the tabulator will be conditioned to print the total indicated at T, Fig. 2. Upon the printing of the total, the carriage will be conditioned from an accumulator in the tabulating machine to initiate a skipping operation to bring the first heading line into printing position. It should be mentioned that when the detail cards are controlling for listing the items, the form R is advanced in line spacing.

The code arrangement of the perforations in the record cards will now be explained. Referring to Fig. l, the record card II has the usual perforations for indicating numerical values as shown at the left side of the card. The alphabetical characters from A to I are combinations of one of the numerical characters from 9 to 1, plus a perforation in the R index point position. The characters J to R each comprise a perforation in one of the numerical positions 9 to 1, plus a perforation in the X index point position. The remaining letters of the alphabet, namely S to Z, each comprise a combination including one of the perforations 9 to 2, plus a perforation in the 0 index point position.

The printing mechanism of an alphabet printing tabulator will now be described with reference to a mechanism similar to that shown in Patent No. 2,016,682.

According to the present system, alphabetical characters are represented on the well-known Hollerith tabulating card I I, Fig. l, by two perforations located in different index point positions of'a single column of the record card. One of the perforations, such as the one indicated at I3 in Fig. 1, is known as the digit perforation and the other perforation, such as the one indicated at I A, Fig. 1, as the zone perforation. The record cards are passed through theusual card feeding and analyzing devices so that they pass a set of upper analyzing brushes and exactly one machine cycle later move in transit past a set of lower analyzing brushes. During the movement of the record card past the upper brushes, analysis is made of the zone perforation. Later in the operation of the machine, as the card passes the lower brushes, the digit perforations are analyzed. The separate analysis of both of theperforations control the positioning of the type carrier and type elementsto select the alpha- 4 betical character represented by the particular arrangement of the perforations analyzed.

With reference to Fig. 3, only those portions of the printing mechanism which are deemed pertinent to the present case will be described. For additional detailed description of the printing mechanism, reference may be made to Patent No. 2,016,682.

The typehead 29 is arranged to be moved past the printing position in synchronism with the movement of the card past the lower brushes and as the 9 index point position traverses the lower brushes, one of the characters I, R, or Z, Fig. l, will be in printing position, depending upon the zone setting effected prior to the movement of the card past the lower brushes.

In Fig. 3, a shaft t2 (which is driven from the main shaft of the tabulating machine through suitable gearing, shown in Fig. 3 of said Patent No. 2,016,682) carries arms 43 which have depending link connections i l with a bail i5 pivoted at d6. Also pivoted at G8 are type carrier actuating arms 'i which are connected at their free ends to the lower extremities of type carriers 48 through link connections 2-8. Arms 1'? are urged in a clockwise direction by springs 59 which are connected at their upper ends to a cross bar extending between arms 63. Thus, as the arms 33 and bail 65 are rocked in a clockwise direction through the action of suitable cams, the springs til will rock the arms All in the same direction and will cause elevation of the type carriers 43 which are suitably mounted for vertical movement. Each carrier 28 is provided with a series of stops El which represent the index point positions 9 to 0 on the record card I I, Fig. 1. As the type bar 18 is moved upwardly, the stops 5i move past a stopping pawl 52 in succession. Pawl 52 is held in position in Fig. 3 by a latch 53 which has a link connection 5d with an armature 55 of a print control magnet 22 I. Energization of magnet 2! will trip latch 53 to permit pawl 52 to rock into engagement with the type carrier under the influence of its spring and engage one of the stops 6! to interrupt further upward movement of the type carrier. When a type bar is used to print numerical characters, it will, of course, be controlled by a column of the record card which contains but a single perforation in accordance with zone 5 of Fig. 4, and for such operations the typehead 29 and the carrier 35 are maintained in the normal relationship to each other and as the card is passing the lower brushes a circuit completed through the perforation will energize the magnet 2| and trip pawl 52 into engagement with the stop 5| corresponding to the location of the single perforation in the record card. This will result in the presentation of the corresponding digit type element at the printing line where a hammer 35 eifects the impression.

Where alphabetical characters are to be printed, the typehead 29 willbe displaced upwardly one, two or three steps with respect to the type carrier 38, accordingly as the character to be printed is contained in zone 2, zone 3 or zone 4 (Fig. 4), so that if, when the print magnet 2I is energized under control of a 9 perforation analyzed by the lower brushes LB, an R perforation had previously been analyzed by the upper brushes U13, the typehead 29 will have been displaced upwardly one step thereby presenting the I type to the printing line rather than the 9 type. Similarly, if the perforation accompanying the 9 perforation had been in the X position, the typehead 29 would have been displaced upwardly two.

steps to present the B type and'in a similar manner the zone perforation of accompanying the 9 perforation would effect an upward movement of the typehead 29 three steps to place the Z type in printing position.

The entire sequence of operations of the machine will now be briefly reviewed with reference to the printing of a particular alphabetical character. Assuming that a column of the record card R, to be perforated to represent the letter Z, reference to the standard Hollerith code will show that Z includes a perforation in the 9 index point position and in the 0 index point position. As the card begins its transit past the upper brushes, the combs II will be restored from the position they occupy in Fig. 3 to a position so that the stop pawl 13 will be positioned against the surface 13a of an extension 93 on said comb ll and as the 0, X, and R positions of the card approach the brushes, the comb M will be moving upwardly so that analysis of the 0 perforation will energize magnet 15 to trip the stopping pawl i3 into engagement with the 0 notch I2 on the comb H. The type carrier at this time is in its uppermost position effecting printing under control of a preceding card and is now returning to its lowermost position. As the carrier is descending, the bail I24 is moved upwardly and will engage the latches 69 and reset the parts to their normal position. Following this, the toggle links 98 are operated to rock bail 96 upwardly to transfer the setting of the arm 95 to the slider 63 which in the present instance will be moved upwardly three steps so that the surface 690. of latch 58 will rest against the bottom of the lowermost step l0. Thereafter the carrier 48 moves upwardly as the card proceeds downwardly past the lower analyzing brushes LB and the uppermost stop 5| of the typebar will be opposite the toe of the stopping pawl 52 when the lower brush analyzes the 9 perforation causing the carrier to be intercepted at this point in which position the Z type element 30 is opposite the printing line. The printing hammers I35 are now tripped in the usual manner to effect printing on a suitable record. The platen P has the usual pressure rollers co-operating therewith to hold and advance the forms R as the platen is rotated.

The foregoing portions of the description are concerned mainly with the controls of the regular printer. The following section deals with the strip feeding control unit. Due to the fact that the automatic carriage is old in the art and that a rather long description would be required to describe its mechanical operation, it is deemed advisable to dispense with the usual description of operation. A complete detailed description of the carriage may be found by referring to Patent No. 2,189,025 or Patent No. 2,528,427. With reference to said Patent No. 2,189,025 (Fig. '7 of which appears as Fig. 4a of the present disclosure), only the control devices of the carriage which are pertinent to the present application will be discussed.

The machine is provided with a series of contact operating arms settably mounted in the automatic carriage unit to determine the skip stopping positions for a plurality of heading print spaces. The adjustment of the arms is made on a graduated scale which is divided to correspond to inches and sixths of an inch, or line spaces on the form. The function of the arms is to make possible the setting of the carriage to handle forms of many different lengths and arrangement. As the form is moved by line spacing, skipping; or ejecting through the distances marked by the arm settings, impulses are avail-' 'I able which may be used to control the carriage for further operations. Likewise, the carriage can be signalled, by control panel wiring, to move the form B through the distance marked by the setting of the arms.

With reference to Fig. 4a it will be seenthat there are three operating arms 5H, 214, and 26B. 4 Arm 2% is normally set to indicate the total length of the form and determines the maximum movement of the form on an ejection. Thus, if

arm 266 is set to 12, the maximum movement of the form once an ejection is started will be l2 inches. has already moved 8 inches (by line spacing or skipping) when the eject impulse is received, the

form moves only through the remaining distance of 2 inche when the ejection takes place. Once the impulse for an ejection is received, a complete I ejection cycle takes place.

Arm 256 is set to a point on the scale equal to I the desired length of a form, and the form strip is inserted so that the first line of printing is properly placed on the first form. Then, when-, ever an ejection takes place, the carriage will automatically rotate the platen so that the second or next form is properly positioned for printing the first line of that form. The length'o'fthe form as measured by arm 266 is therefore measured from the first printing line of one form .to

the first printing line of a second form.

Arm 21d is normally set at the point on the scale representing the distance from .the first printing line to the last printing line on the form. As printing takes place and the last printing line is reached (by line spacing), an overflow impulse is available at the control panel which in dicates that the form has been moved through This impulse can the body of an invoice or similar form which is As is the case divided into two or more sections. in the present application, arm 5!! can be settlo a point on the scale representing the distance from the first printing line in the body to the first printing'line of a heading of aninverted form. The carriage can be signalled to move. the

form (by skipping) through the distance marked by the setting of arm 54?. If thi signal is r'ej ceived after one or more lines have been printed. in the body of an inverted form, the form I moves only through the remainder of the',dis-'- tance marked by arm 5!! to bring the firstheading line into printing position. i

A series of contacts are employed to control they ejection and line spacing magnets and the tabulating start and stop devices. These contacts are also shown in Fig. 4a. Only a brief discus- I sion of those contacts pertinent to the present. application will be given here because they will be covered again hereinafter in connection with the carriage circuits.

A skip stop contact 498 is a normally closed contact which is opened when the previously mentioned arm 51'! crosses 0 on the scale to initiate the end of a skipping operation. With reference to Fig. 2 of the present case, whenthe' total indicated at T on form R is printed, a skipping operation will. result until the first heading line on thebottom of form R is in printing position, .at which time arm 511-. (Fig. 4a). will.;.c rossi= If arm 266 is set at 10 and the form 7 on the scale and open contact 498 to, stop skip- Ding.

The eject auto-start contact 291 is a normally open contact and remainsopen during ejection except for approximately 25" before the end of the ejection cycle. The contact provides a circuit for de-energizing tabulator relays R42 and R43 (in a manner to be described hereinafter) and return the accounting machine to normal.

operation.

The interlock contact 286 is a normally closed point which opens immediately following the beginning of an ejection operation and remains open during the entire ejection operation. The contact opens all line spacing circuits and prevents new ejection circuits from being set up during an ejection operation.

Returning again to the drawings of the present case, as shown in the wiring diagram (Figs. Err-c, the controls of the automatic record feeding devices are co-ordinated with the controls of an alphabet printing tabulator. The tabulator is of the type disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,079,418, 2,172,067 and 2,199,547 to which reference may be made for details of construction. Before describing the manner in which an automatic carriage is influenced by the ordinary tabulator controls and operations, and vice versa, it is believed well to outline the usual tabulator operations.

In such machines'a motor TMiFig. 5a) is connected to communicate a drive through two clutches which are selectively operated for card feeding and printing operations. A number of CF cam contacts operate only when the card feed clutch is engaged. Certain PM contacts operate only when the printer clutch is engaged. Other CB contacts operate all the time that the motor is active. A series of TS contacts are operated only when a total taking cycle is initiated.

After record cards, such as those shown in Fig. l, are placed in the feed magazine, an initial feeding cycle is-brought about by pressing a start key to connect the card feed clutch devices. The circuits pass from line 320 (Fig. 50;), wire 2%, wire 20!, the stop key contacts SP, the start key contacts ST, pickup coil of RIZ, wire 202, and line 32 I. Relay I I will now be picked up through a circuit from line 320, wire 20!), wire 203, CB3I, RZBc, R290, R35a, R6Ic, R6812, RIZd now closed, pickup coil of-Rl l, wire 202 and line 32!. When RH is picked up the card feed clutch will be energized by a circuit from line 32 0, wire 209, wire 203, wire 205, R110 points now closed, the card feed clutch magnet CFC, wire 282 and line 32!. The card feed clutch willengage at 330 in the cycle and start the cards through the feed rolls.

When the card feed clutch magnet CFC is picked up, a parallel circuit is set up through RBIa, the pickup coil of relay RI5, wire 2532 and line 32!. Relay R picks up relay RI fi-which, in turn, closes contacts RlSa to call in the print clutch magnet PCM.

As card feeding starts, a cam contact CFQ (Fig. 5b), closes to call in a relay RI. The circuit passes through line 320, wire 335, circuit breaker contacts CBl-A, wire 328, timer contacts CF11, CF! 8, contacts R2a, common brush 323, the upper brush contact roll 330, brush 33!, wire 332, cam contacts CF9, the pickup coil of relay Rt, wire 333 and line 32 I. Relay RI is then held through contacts Rio and CF8 (top of Fig. 5b) until the first full cycle is well advanced.

Relay RI is effective to open contacts and deenergize-the connections to the cardfeed clutch.

8 Thus. the card feed mechanism isv operated for one cycle and then stopped.

Under initial starting conditions it is necessary to depress the start key a second time to cause a continuous succession of card feed cycles. As soon as cards continue to feed and insulate the brush 331, relay R! remains de-energized and certain of its contacts remain closed to maintain the holding circuit for the card feed clutch controls. Another relay R2 is connected with relay R1 to control contacts at various points in the machine in the nature of an upper card lever control.

The lower card lever relays R3 and R4 (Fig. 5b). are energized when the first card passes below the upper brushes U3 and they remain energized until the last card passes the lower brushes LB. The first card closes the lower card lever contacts LCLC after digit analysis under the upper brushes. Th cam contacts CFG also close to energize the relays by the circuit: Line 320, wires 335 and 3371, cam contacts CFt, card lever contacts LCLC, relays R3 and Re, wire 334 and line 32 I.

On the second feeding cycle, relay RIB (Fig. 5a) is energized by a circuit involving line 329, wire 268, Wire 26 5, R32) now closed, wire 5I5 to switch Sl3, through Si, C1320, Rita now closed, the pickup coil of relay l5 and line 32!.

As a result, the print clutch magnet PCM is picked up by a circuit involving line 328, wire 200, wires 2G3 and 235, Rllc now closed, Rita now closed, print clutch magnet POM and wire 209 to line 329. The clutch is therefore unlatched and ready to engage at 330 and start the type bars up in synchronism with the movement of first card passing the lower brushes.

In listing operations the record card passes the lower brushes LB in synchronism with the upward movement of the type bars. Magnets 2| (Fig. 5b) operate stop pawls to locate the type bars in positions corresponding to the data punched in the card and at a predetermined time, hammers are tripped to record the information on the record strip. Adjustment of the type bars is regulated by impulses carried to magnets 21 from the lower brushes LB. An illustrative printing control circuit involves line 329, wire 336, contact breakers CBi-d, wire 328, timer contacts CFI? and CF18, wire 345, lower card lever relay contacts Rea, common brush 34", contact roller 34?, through the perforation in the card by a lower brush LB, the brush socket, plug Wire 3&9 to socket At, normally closed contacts TSa, magnet 21, wire 350 and line 32 i.

Contacts TSa are shifted for total cycles so that printing is then controlled by impulses from an accumulator rather than from the lower brushes.

Many operations of the tabulator and record feeding devices are directed under the control of what are called X distributors. These distributors are switches that are operated under control of special digit or X perforations punched in cards for distributive control purposes. Contacts CFE (Fig. 5b) are closed at the instant the X holes pass the card reading brushes. They set up a circuit for multicontact relays as follows: Line 3323, cam contacts C35, wire 35!, contacts Rla closed as long as cards are feeding, llglilltl-COIIEQCG relays XRi-ZZ, wire 369 and line In the middle portion of Fig. 50. it is seen that one of the relays, relay XRZL controls a contact XRZIa in series with an X distributor pickup under the upper brushes.

coil R34 which receives X impulses through a socket 8I3 connected to the upper brushes U 3. A similar pickup coil PL for relay R34 is provided with a socket DG to receive digit impulses when a digit selector is used in connection with special holes sensed at the upper brushes. The DG socket can also receive other digit impulses such as a digit impulse from an accumulator total exit hub which will emit an impulse on a total cycle. This form of control is used and will be described hereinafter. When the DG hub receives such an impulse the pickup coil of relay R34 will be energized through the XRZI contacts.

In the case of the X hub 8I3, the action of a pickup coil is usually preparatory to the X distributor control which takes place a cycle later in the operation than the cycle in which an X special perforation is sensed while the card is Therefore, there are times when another relay is picked up to become effective during the cycle when the card is pass ing the lower brushes, at which time it is desired to distribute the data sensed therefrom or alter v the nature of the accounting operation.

For the purpose of calling a second X distributor relay into operation, the first one closes contacts in series with the second. Also in series with this pickup coil are digit transfer contacts which are cam-operated to hold the pickup circuit between the time that the contacts CB23 open, which is overlapped by the time that cam contacts CFI close.

Group control devices are provided for separately'considering different classes or groups of cards as distinguished by different group number perforations for different groups. Consecutive cardsare compared, one card being read at the upper brushes while the preceding card is read at the lower brushes. As long as the card readings are alike, the card feed continues to function. When the machine senses that the two group readings are not alike, the feed unit stops, the machine prints the total, the accumulator is cleared to zero, and the machine automatically starts feeding the cards of the next group.

Preliminary to the establishment of group control circuits, a number of preparatory relays RI69-RI12 (Fig. 5b) are energized to close the circuits for the comparison relays. The preparatory circuit includes line 320, wire 203, cam contacts CFI9, relays RI69-RI12 and line 32I. As an example of the efiect of these relays, it is seen that relay RIES serves to close contacts RIBQb in series with the group control pickup coils RI29,RI33.

The actual comparing circuits are connected by plug wiring between comparing relay pickup coils and certain upper and lower brushes devoted to sensing group numbers or specialperforations. An example of the comparing circuits is as follows: Line 320 (Fig. 5b), wire 333, contacts CBI-CB4, wire 328, timer contacts CFI1 and CFI8, contacts RZa, common brush 329, contact roller 330, through the perforation in the card sensed by the upper brush UB, plug wire 381 connected from a socket in line with the upper brush to a socket 338 in line with the pickup coil of relay RI29, contacts RIBBb and wire 369 to line 32L As long as group numbers agree, a companion circuit to that already traced is set up at the same time through a pickup coil of a relay RI3U as energized through the lower brushes by the following circuit: Line 320 (Fig. 5b) wire 336, contacts CBI-CB I, wire 328, contacts CFI1 and -10 CFI8, wire 346, relay contacts R4a, common brush 345, contact roller 341, through a perforation in the card sensed by the lower brush LB, a plugwire 389 connected to socket 390, pickup coil of relay RI 30, contacts Rl12b, wire 339 and line 32].

Relays RI29 and RI3II have holding coils and contacts in series therewith for sustaining the comparing circuit connections. The holding circuit includes line 320, wire 206, CFZI, wire 39I, contacts RIZQa, the holding coil of relay RI29, wire 392 and line 32I. In a similar fashion the other pairs of holding coils, such as those of relays RI33, RI34, are picked up and held as a part of the comparing control.

Referring to the upper. left-hand corner of .Fig. 5b, it is seen that the pairs of comparing relays are associated with pairs of contacts soarranged that, when a related pair such as relays RI 29 and RI3D are energized at the same time, they fail to provide a circuit path. However, should one or the other be energized alone, showing that there is a disagreement in the group control perforations, then a circuit is established for setting up a minor control operation: Line 320, cam contacts CBI1, CBIB. the left contacts RI23a, the right contacts RI3Da, a plug wire connection between the orders and socket 385,. plug wire .to socket MI Shunt, the pickup coil of re1ayR53, wire 350 and line 32 I. A holding circuit is established for relay R53 due to the closure of contact R5311 in series with the holdingcoil. The holding coil of relay R53 operates other contacts R5312 in series with a minor controlpickup coil of a relay RBI. The minor control circuit includes line 323, wire 206, camcontacts CBI9, lower card lever relay contacts R31), heading control suppression contacts R301), relay contacts R5319, switch S4, the pickup coil of relay RBI, wire 392 and line 32 I.

A holding circuit is established for relay RBI by v the closure of contacts R'iIa and connections which may be traced from line 320, wire 2 6, cam contacts PMI5. contacts RIiIa, relay RBI, wire 392 and line 32I. Associated with relay RBI'is another minor control relay R64 which is energized along with it. These relays have contacts throughout the machine for controlling the suspension of card feeding, the initiation of total taking, etc.

The foregoing description of the roup control com arison and the resulting pick of minor relays for control urposes is duplicated wit res ect to other columns or grouns of columns on the record cards for intermediate and major c ntrol. The particular columns selected. for control are made effective by plugging from various sockets, such. as 385 (Fig. 5b) to the sockets INT and MAJ. Then the intermediate relay R 4 and major control relay R55 are called into action to set up circuits for relays R61 and R13 similar to that of the minor control described in connection with energization of relay BI. Associated with intermediate relay R61 are two other control relays R69 and R13, and major holding relay R13 also has an associated relay R14.

The 1st card in control involves not only relay RIB but also relays R8 and R9 as shown in Fig. 5b. There it is seen that the pickup coil of relay R9 is energized by a circuit involving line 323, contacts OBI-CB4, wire 328, lower card lever relay contacts R419, wire 313, cam contacts CF22, wire 428, relay R9, wire 333 and line 32I. Contacts RIla are then closed to provide the holding circuit from line 320 through wire 336, relay contacts R40 or intermediate control contacts R100,

contacts Rea, relay R9, wire ass and line s21.

Relay RIO is connected in parallel with relay R9 tobe energized along therewith as soon as a card isunder the lowerbrushes.

. .In some instances, such. as the one embodied in this application, it is desired to selectively list data from only certain Cards.

To perform this function the tabulator is provided with a.D selective list hub 46.0 (Fig. a) which is capable .of receiving any digit impulse. pulse is received the pickup coil of relay R93 will I be energized and a holding circuit for relay R93 When a digit imwill be set up as follows: Line 328, wire 2%, wire .206, cam .contacts CBSB, contact Rssa, the hold coilof relay R93 and line 32 I. A circuit is also completed to energize relay R8 2 as follows: Line 32!), wire 2.08, wire 206,, 0133i), wire dfihcontacts R930, cam operated contacts DTI ila now closed, pickup coilof relay R94, wire 2&2 and line 32!.

The energization of relay Red allows a circuit to be completed to print clutch relay RI The circuit involves line 328 (Fig. Sn), wire 28%, wire .204, contacts R317, through switch SI3 closed Htor which is mounted on the shaft of the CF contact unit and therefore the emitter turns only when the card feed unit is in operation. The digit selector emitter has-l2 segments, one correspond ing to each of the 12 perforation positions on the card. The common brush 29?, which is connected to the digit selector common hub, makes contact onthe 9 segment atthe same time an upper (or lower) brush would read a 9-hole and makes on the 8-segment at 8 time, etc. Therefore, if the -DSC hub .555 is wired to an upper (or lower) brush, an impulse through a Q-hole in that col- .umn would come through to the digit selector 9 hub; an impulse through an 8-hole would come tome 8 digit selector hub, etc.

By this means the punching in a column may be selected, and-each digit may be directed, as desired, to operate various circuits.

The circuit arrangements mentioned hereinbefore deal mainly with the control of the tabulator, while those about tofollow are concerned more with controls reaching into the automatic carriage to operate magnet LSM for line spacing and skipping, and magnet EM for long feeding or form to form ejection.

.It will be realized that the circuits about to be traced for line spacing and ejection control are not all the circuits possible to exercise control thereover. These circuits given are pertinent to the present invention and all that are necessary for an understanding thereof.

The line spacing control for ordinary listing operation provides a circuitthrough magnet LSM when printer cam contacts PM I I close after each printer operation. The circuit for list spacing includes line 32%..(Fig. 51:), wire Bill, post I I, carriage contacts 286 opened, only on ejection operation, post 12, wire 802, relay contacts Rad closed after first card is past upper brushes, relay contacts R220. opened only on ejection control, relay contacts R450 also opened only as an ejection interlock, wire 804, switch S3 closed for listing, printer cam contacts PMI I, wire 805, relay 12 contacts B3 310 for space interlock control, wire 8138, relay contacts RSO closed after first card in, wire 801, magnet LSM and wire 209 connected to 1ine 32!. This circuit will effect line spacing for the items listed in the body portion of form R as shown in Fig. 2. When the last item is listed and a no XX change is detected between the last item card and the first heading card of a group, the tabulator will be conditioned to print the minor total (indicated at T in Fig. 2), through a plugwire connection between the socket of the upper brush UB sensing the X perforation in the heading card to socket we) (Fig. 5c) and a plug wire connection between socket TOI (Fig. 50) to the socket labeled MI Shunt (Fig. 5b). The circuit then for the minor total is the same as the one previously described except that normally open contacts RSEESa have been added. The closing of contacts RSEZM, will be described hereinafter in connection with the novel control .circuits.

When the line spacing control is used for space skipping, i. e., to advance form R from the minor total printing line to the first heading line (indicated at F on Fig. 2) then another circuit is established for space magnet LSM. As was previously mentioned, the DG hub (Fig. 5a) will accept a digit impulse on a total cycle to energize the pickup coil of relay R34. This circuit involves line 32!! (Fig. 5b), wire 336, CBI-CB4, Wire 201, CBI3, the accumulator 9-Iil contact closed on the 10 side when the accumulator is going through a total cycle, counter total exit hub, plugwire to DC- hub (Fig. 5a) pickup coil of relay R36, wire 2B8, wire 2% and line 32L The circuit for the holding coil of relay R34 and the pickup coil of R35 is as follows: Line 320 (Fig. 51)), line 336, lower card lever contacts R lc, first card in relay contacts R a, wire 2 (ll, wire 2| I, wire 2(2, wire Hi3 (Fig. 5a), skip stop contacts 498, wire 8110, relay contacts R34a,.holding coil of relay R34, wire 2M, pickup coil of relay R35, wire 209 and line 32!. The following circuit is now established to initiate a skipping operation as follows: Line 329 (Fig. 5a), wire SDI, post II, carriage contacts 236 closed with ejection, post I2, wire 802, first card in relay contacts R9d, interlock relay contacts RZEH, ejection control relay contacts R450, wire 894, relay contacts R350 now closed, sheet overflow relay contacts Rita, control relay contacts R3540 opened only by strip end, printer cam contacts Pix/l9, relay contacts B34341 of a space control interlock, wire 801, magnet LSM, wire Edi! and line 32!. Skipping will continue until the first heading line on form R (Fig. 2) is in printing position at which time the carriage arm Ell (Fig. do) will coincide with 0 on the scale and open the skip stop contacts 498 as previously mentioned.

When the skip stop contacts 498 open to stop skipping, the holding circuits for relays R3 1 and R35 are broken and the relay contacts R35a (Fig. 5a) return to their normally closed position allowing relay RI I to be energized to start normal operation of the tabulator.

After .theheading lines have been printed a group change is detected between the customer number punched in the last heading card of one group and the customer number punched in the first item card of a succeeding group and the carriage is impulsed to eject from the last heading line H of form R (Fig 2) to the first item line I of the succeeding form.

The ejection circuit involves a plug wire connection between an unequal group control impulse socket such as 445 (Fig. 5b) to socket 840 (Fig. 5a) and another plug wire connection from socket 8M to eject socket 842 for picking up relays RH and R42 along wire 8&3 whenever card group numbers change. The operation of the relay contacts RSEZEd in the connecting wire between sockets 840 and 84 will be described hereinafter. Along the right side of Fig. So it is seen that relay contacts R! 7c are in series with another relay R43 which is then made efiective to call for ejection. The circuit for relay R43 includes bottom line 32 l wire 202, wire 821, relay R 13, relay contacts Rl'lc, wire 846, interlock relay contacts R3lc, wire 845, post 9, post ll, wire 89)! and line 320.

Relay R43 then closes contacts R43a (Fig. 5a) in series with the eject magnet EM to call it into operation for a long feed advance. The eject circuit includes line 32!, wire 202, magnet EM, cam contacts CB33, switch SZI, minor control contacts R640 closed after total printing, intermediate control contacts R6911 closed after printing, relay contacts RBa, wire 82!, post l2, interlock contacts 285, post H, and wire Bill to line 320. Ejection then takes place to advance the record strip from form to form.

The entire novel wiring controls for detecting whether the order date punched in the detail cards is earlier than, equal to, or later than the pre-selected date set-up in the tabulator, and for exercising certain controls over the carriage in accordance with the analysis of said order dates are shown in heavy lines in the wiring diagram and comprise two main units, a comparing circuit unit and a test circuit unit, in addition to a heading control circuit. It is thought best to describe the elements of the comparing circuit unit and the test circuit unit before going through a complete sequence of operation.

Referring to the left and middle portions of Fig. 5c, the comparing unit comprises a group of relays labeled RSEI, RSE2, etc., to RSEZG. This group of relays is divided into smaller groups of three relays each making a total of 8 smaller groups. For example, group 1 comprises the relays RSEI, RSEZ and RSE3, and group 2 comprises the relays RSE4, RSE5 and RSEG. As will be shown later, each one of the 8 groups corresponds to a column in the detail card and hence it is possible to analyze a number having from 1 to 8 digits, inclusive.

It will be noted that the first relay coil of each group, such as relay RS-El in group 1 or RSEHS in group 5, is connected to a plug hub labeled LB and similarly the second relay coil of each group, such as relay RSEZ in group 1, is connected to a plug hub labeled U3. The U3 hubs will each be plug-wired to the upper brush UB (Fig. 5b) of a column in the order date field of the detail card to pick up their associated relay coils in accordance with the order date punched in the card. In a similar manner each of the LB hubs (Fig. 50) will be plug-wired to a digit selector DS (Fig. 5a) to pick up their associated relay coils in accordance with the pre-selected date set up in the digit selector.

The third relay coil in each group, hereafter referred to as control relay, such as RSE3 in group 1 or RSEG in group 2, is connected to a wire 566 (or wire 5M) which is connected to line 326 through circuit breaker contacts CBMSE and CBMS2 and wire 513. The pickup of each of these control relay coils, such as RSE3, is conditioned by relay contacts, such as RSElc and RSE2c, associated with the previously mentioned other two relay coils of each group, such as RSEI and RSE2 for group 1. C'BMSI and CBMS2 initiate impulses during each machine cycle which may or may not pick up said control relays depending upon the timing of the pickup of the relays such as RSEI and RSEZ of group 1. As a result the order date punched in the card and the order date set up in the digit selector are both entered into the comparing unit, each digit of the order date punched in the card, entering a U3 plug hub of a particular group to energize its associated relay such as R SEZ, and each corresponding digit of the pre-selected order date entering a corresponding LB plug hub of the same group to pick up its associated relay such as RSEI The impulses initiated by CBMSI and CBMS2 are test impulses which effect the comparison of the two digits entered in each group by energizing or not energizing the associated control relay.

Referring to groups 3 and 4, it is noted'that there, there are a plurality of RMS relay coils and associated RMS relay contacts. These relays are inserted in the setup unit to allow the circuit to be operable when the digits 1 through 12, representing the months of the year are punched in a single column in the detail cards. The principle of carrying out normal tabulating operations for a two digit number punched in a single column is not new in the tabulating art and need not be elaborated upon except to note that it is a preferred practice in billing operations of the present type to utilize each column of the card as much as possible. The operation of the RMS relay coils and associated relay contacts will be described hereinafter and a complete circuit description will be given.

The test circuit unit may be seen in the right hand portion of Fig. 5b and comprises an associated relay contact for each one of the control relays in the comparing unit. These relay contacts, such as RSE30 and RSEBc are connected to a Wire 502 which in turn is connected to socket 503. Said relay contacts are also connected to a wire 564 which is connected to the line 320 through circuit breaker contacts CBSE3 (Fig. 5c)

The circuit breaker contacts CBSE function to initiate a test impulse once every cycle to test the result of the comparison made in the comparing unit and govern the operation of the tabulator accordingly. When a digit representing the month in the order date punched in the detail card is lower than the corresponding month digit of the pre-selected date, an associated control relay will be energized and the associated relay contacts in the test unit will be transferred. When this condition exists, the test impulse initiated by CBSE3 will complete a circuit through the transferred relay contacts to said socket 503. Socket 583 may be plug-wired to control an operation of the tabulator such as selectively listing certain detail cards.

A complete Sequence of operation will now be described with reference to control over movement of the form R shown in Fig. 2 to more clearly point out by an example, the essence of control by the novel circuits discussed in the preceding paragraphs.

It is to be assumed that a date of December 20, 1948 (12-20-48) is chosen as a pre-selected date and that it is desired to bill only those customers who placed orders dated earlier than this pre-selected date.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it is seen that the order date punched in the first detail card D is August 20, 1948 (8-20-48). Reading the card lyzed first, then the S-hcle, etc.

from left to right. it is to be noted that the first l the date, then the month and finally the day to ascertain whether one date is earlier, equal or later than the other date. For this reason, the year digits 4 and 8 are Wired from their related upper brushes UB (Fig. 5b) to the UB hub of groups 1 and 2, respectively (Fig. 5c), since groups 1 and 2 are tested first. The third group (Fig. 50) would normally be plugged to the tens digit column of a if), 11 or 12 representing October, November and December. In this particular application, however, group 3 is not plugged at all because we are using only one column of the date field on the card for single column month control. Consequently, the digit 8 representing the month of August is connected by a plug wire between its related upper brush U8 and the UB hub of group 4 and similarly the digits 2 and representing the day are wired to the UB hubs of groups 5 and 6 respectively.

The pro-selected date 12-20-48 is set up in the digit selector as follows: The DSC hub 525 (Fig. 5a) is plug-wired to the UCI hub 5b). The UCI hub is connected to line 329 through the circuit breaker contacts Chi-CB5 which make and break each time one of the 12 punching positions on the card passes either upper or lower brushes. of the digit selector (Fig. 5a), connected to the DSC hub, makes contact on the 9 segment at the same time an upper or lower brush would read the 9 punching position on the card and makes contact on the 8 segment at 8 time, etc. Conseuently, the 12 hub Edi of the emitter will be energized at 12 time, the i1 hub at 11 time, etc. The 12 hub 52? is connected by plug wire to the LB hub of group 4, the 2 and 0 hubs of the selector are connected by plug wire to the LB hubs of groups 5 and 6 respectively and the 4 and 8 hubs are connected by plug wire to the LB hubs of groups 1 and 2 respectively.

The detail card in the tabula'lor will feed so that the Q-hole punching position will be ana- The -hcle is at the reading brushes at 9 in the cycle and remains in reading position until 18. The 8-hole Will be at the reading brushes 9 later or at at the upper brushes UB, plug wire connection to UB hub (Fig. 5c) of group 2, pickup coil of RSE5, wire 598 and line 321. The same sort of circuit is directed from the month column upper brush'by a plug wire connection to the UB hub of group 4, pickup coil of RSE'! 1, wire 508 and line 321; and also contact RMS3c normally closed,

The common brush 2b? a.

the pickup coil of relay RMSZ, wire 5338 and line 322. Also at 8 time, a circuit is completed from line 328 (Fig. 5b), wire 33%, circuit breaker contacts CBl-CBQ, UCI hub 595, plug wire connection to 1386 hub see (Fig. 5a), common brush 2M, the 8 segment, D532 hub, plug wire connection to LB hub of group 2 (Fig. 5c), pickup coil of relay RSE S, wire 588 and line 32 l.

The holding coils for the various control relays are shown in the right-hand portion of Fig. 5c. The holding circuit for relays RSEA and RSE5 involves line 329, circuit breaker contact CBSEi, wire 5%, relay contact RSEQa now closed, the holding coil of relay RSEG and wire 51%; also from RSE la contact, through contact RSEEZ) now closed, holding coil of relay RS135, wire 5E2 and line 324. The holding circuit for relay RMS2 involves line 32b, circuit. breaker contact CBSEH, wire 569, relay contact RMS2a. now closed, holding coil of relay RMSZ and wires 55!, M2 and 588 to line 32E. Relay RSEH fails to hold because relay RSEHJ was not picked up to transfer relay contact RSEifla in the holding circuit of relay RSEI l.

Referring to Fig. 5c, the circuit breaker contacts (DBMS! and CBMS2 are overlapping contacts which make at the time an index point position leaves the reading brushes and break when the succeeding index point position on the card arrives at the reading brushes and hence are closed in between the digit timings. As a result, right after 8 time a test impulse is initiated to compare the status of the digits that have been set up. The circuit involves line 328, wire 5L3, circuit breaker contacts CBMSI and CBMSZ closed from 36 to 45 following 8 time, wire 500, relay contact RSE lc now closed, to relay contact RSE5C. A circuit cannot get through the RSE5c contact because they are now transferred. Because relays RSEd and RSES were both picked up at 8 time, the related contacts RSE lc and RSE5c both transferred at the same time and they fail to pick up relay RSEB indicating that the digit 8 of the year punched in the card is equal to the corresponding 8 of the year set up in the digit selector. The control relay RSEI2 in group 4 was also tested by said test impulse but the relay contact RSElfib was open so relay RSEIZ failed to pick up.

Using the same procedure just described, comparison of the 4, 2 and 0 perforations of the date punched in the detail card and the corresponding 4, 2 and 0 readings of the pro-selected date is made with the same results as for the 8 comparison.

At 1, 0, 11 and 12 time, which is from approximately to 208 of the cycle, the relays RMS3 and RMSll are energized. This circuit involves line 32:: (Fig. 5a), wire 200, wire 294, lower card lever contact R31) now closed, Wire 515, wire 513 (Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c), cam contact CFMSI, month control switch on, pickup coils of relays RMS3 and RMS l, wire 511 and line 32 I At 1 time (approximately 150) an impulse is initiated to energize the pickup coil of RSE'I. The circuit involves line 329 (Fig. 5b), wire 33B, circuit breaker contacts CBl-CBQ, wire 328, to timer contacts CF11 and CF18, wire 515, card lever relay contacts RM (Fig. 5c), cam contact CF3, relay contact RMSfla now closed, relay contact RMSEC transferred, pickup coil of relay RSE'I, wire 508 and line 32 i. The hold circuit for relay ESE! involves line 320 (Fig. 5c), cam contact CBSEI, wire 509, relay contact RSEla now 17 closed, hold coil of relay RSEI, wire 5H] and line 32L Right after 1 time, an impulse is initiated to energize the pickup coil of relay RSEQ. This circuit involves line 320 (Fig. 5c) wire 5 l 3, cam contacts CBMSI and CBMS2, wire 500, wire 5l8, relay contact RSE'ic now closed, relay contact RSE8c normally closed, pickup coil of relay RSE9. wire 508 and line 32!. The holding circuit for relay RS189 is line 320 (Fig. 5c), cam contact CBSEI wire 509, relay contact RSEM now closed. hold coil of relay RSES, wire 510 and line 321.

At 12 time the number 12 set up in the digit selector to represent December of the pre-selected date will cause a circuit to be completed to energize the pickup coil of relay RSEiD. The circuit involves line 320 (Fig. 5b), wire 33B, circuit breaker contacts OBI-CB4, UCI hub 506, plugwire connection to DSC hub 505 (Fig. 5a), common brush 201, 12 segment, DS|2 hub, plugwire connection to LB hub of group 4 (Fig. 5c), pickup coil of relayRSElD, wire 508 and line 32 I. This circuit also passes from the LB hub, through the relay contacts of RMS3a, RMSlc normally closed, pickup coil of relay RSEB, wire 500 and line 32 l.

The hold coils of relays RSEB and RSEH: will be energized by a circuit involving line 320 (Fig. 5c), circuit breaker contact CBSEI. wire 509, relay contact RSEIOa now closed, hold coil of relay RSEIU, wire 510 and line 320. A parallel circuit is also completed through the relay contact RSEIa now closed, relay contact RSEBb now closed, the hold coil of relay RSE8, wire 510- and line 32I.

It should be noted at this point that in order to energize the control relay RSE9, it was necessary that relay RSEI be energized before relay RSEB to close the relay contact RSEIc before the relay contact RSEBc opened. It follows then that the digit 8 representing the month of August in the date punched on the card, and utilized to en-- ergize relay RSE'I, necessarily had to be lower (or in effect earlier than) the number setting 12 representing the month of December in the preselected date.

Both dates have now been analyzed, set-up in the comparing unit and compared. At 210" in the cycle, circuit breaker contact CBSE3 (Fig.

5c) closes to send a test impulse to determine the result of the comparison. This circuit involves line 320 (Fig. 5c) circuit breaker contact CBSE3, sequence checking switch, relay contact RSE2'Ic normally closed, relay contact RSEZa now closed, wire 504 (Fig. 5b), normally closed point of contact RSE3 c, relay contact RSE5a now closed, the normally closed point of contact RSEBc, relay contact RSEBa now closed, relay contact RSE90 transferred, wire 502, socket 503, plugwire connection to the "D selective list hub 400 (Fig. 5a) to complete a circuit as previously described for selectively listing the data from the card onto form R as shown by line L in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that there are 6 detail cards in the first group of cards and only 4. listed lines of information on the form R. This condition would exist if one of the two rejected detail cards shown in group 1 bears an order date equal to the pre-selected date, in which casethe card would not be listed as the example inthe circuit description. Also assuming that another detail card of group 1 has a date which is later than the pre-selected date, for example, January 15, 1949, it follows .from the circuit description that the 9 of the year date in the detail card will energize relay RSE5 (Fig. 5c) of group 2 before the 8 of the year date in the digit selector energizes relay RSE I and as a result relay RSE5 cannot hold due to the fact that relay contact RSE la is in the hold circuit. Therefore although control relay RSEG (Fig. 521) will be energized, a circuit cannot be completed to socket 503 due to the normally open points of contact RSE5w, and that card will not be listed. The remaining 3 cards of the first group are considered to bear earlier dates and are listed on form R.

In summation of the novel circuits just described there are three conditions which may exist: For example, with reference to the relays shown in group 1 (Fig. 5c)

(a) When the digit in the card is higher than the corresponding digit in the selector, relay RSEZ will not hold up and relay RSE3 will be energized,

(b) When the digits are equal, relays RSEI and'RSEZ will be energized but relay RSE3 will not be energized, and

(c) When the digit in the card is lower than the corresponding digit ,inthe selector, relays RSEI, RSEZ and RSE3 will all be energized.

' Also in connection with the RMS relays for single months column control, it can now be understood that any digit reading from 9 through 2 to the LB or UB hubs of group 4 (Fig: 50) will cause relays RMSI and RMSZ to be energized as well as relays ESE-l0 and RSEI I. Relays RSEIO and RSEII; will allow group 4 to operate normally and relays RMSI and RMS2 will allow an impulse to relays RSEI and RSE'B of group 3 and indicate that group. 1

If. the U3 and LB hubsare impulsed by 1', 0, 11 or 12 digits, both groups 3 and 4 will be read. Group 4 will be read direct but group 3 will be read in a reverse order through the relay contacts RMS3a and RMS3b. This is necessary since 9-1 is one sequence and 0, 11, and 12 is the reverse sequence.

It should be understood that with the RMS relays removed, the months circuits could be made to function the same as the other 4 groups by using two card columns for representing the month.

The novel circuits for placing certain controls on either the tabulator or the automatic carriage will now be discussed.

It is an object of the control circuits to prevent the listing of the heading cards of a group if no detail cards of that particular group were listed, as it is not necessary to bill a customer when no payments are due. To accomplish this, it is necessary, when the first detail card is listed, to register the fact that a listing was made.

A relay coil RSE25 is energized every cycle by a circuit involving line 320 (Fig. 5b), wire 336, circuit breaker contacts CBl-CB4, wire 520', circuit breaker contact CB5, sequence checking switch 508 on, pickup coil of relay It-SE25, wire 52! and line 32I. The holding circuit for relay RSE25 is as follows: Line 320 (Fig.5b) .wire 3.36, lower card lever contact R40 nowclosed, first card in contact R9a now closed, wire 522, contact RSEZGc normally closed-contact RSE25b now closed. hold coil of relay RSE'25, wire 52! and line 32 l Relay RSE25 will remain energized as long as no detail cards are listed.

However, when a detail card is listed, the circuit previously described for energizing socket 503 (Fig. 5b) to selectively list, alsoenergizes a an equal condition for aeeascs relay RSE26 through wire 6B2; pickup coil-oi relay RSEZB, wire 52! and line 32!. The holding circuit for relay RSEZB involves line 326! (Fig. 50), wire 523, relay contact RSE28C normally closed, wire 524 (Fig. b), relay contacts RSEESZ) now closed, "hold coil of relay RSEZG, wire 52! and line 328. When relay RSE26 .is energized, the normally closed contacts RSE2Ec in the hold circuit of relay RSE open to drop out relay RSE25.

The manner in which the heading cards are listed will now be described.

The listing of the heading cards is initiated by sensing the special X perforation indicated at $2 in Fig. l. The sensing of this X perforation initiates a circuit to energize the pickup coil of relay R26. The circuit involves line 328 (Fig. 5b), wire 336, contacts CBl-CBi, wire 328, timing contacts CFH, C'FIS, upper card lever control contacts E20,, common brush 3'29, contact roller 33!) and through the record card as sensed by an upper brush UB to detect an X perforation, a socket in line with the related upper brush, a plugwire to socket 526 (Fig. 5a), X distributor contact XRZila now closed, the Pu coil of relay R28, wire 521, Wire 209 and line 32L The hold circuit for relay R26 is from line 328 (Fig. 5c), circuit breaker contact CB29, contact R2611 now closed, the hold coil of relay R25, wire 2.92 and line 32!.

When relay R28 is energized, a circuit is also completed to energize the pickup coils of relays R21 and R28 as follows: Line 323 (Fig. 5a), circuit breaker contact C329, contact RSEZEd normally closed when detail cards have been listed, contact R2617 now closed, the pickup coil of relay R21, wire 202 and line 321. A parallel circuit is also completed'through contact RSEZEd, contact R2622, wire 529, contact D'lZfla closed, pickup coil of relay R28, wire "2&9 and line 32L The holding circuit for relay R2 5 involves line 325, card feed cam contact CF15, contact R2lb now closed, the hold coil of relay R21, Wire 2653 and line 321. The holding circuit for relay R28 is from line 3%, card feed cam contact CF15. wire 5%, contact R28b now closed, hold coil of relay R28, wire 259 and line 32!.

With relay R28 picked up, it is now possible to energize the pickup coil of print control relay RIG by a circuit from line 32$] (Fig. 5a) wire 2433, wire 20 i, lower card lever contact R3?) closed, wire 52%, contact R28d now closed, wire 482, circuit breaker contact CBZG, contact RI 5a closed with cards feeding, pickup coil of relay Bit and line 32!. A circuit will now be completed to the print clutch magnet PCM as previously described and the typebars will be operated for listing the heading cards.

It can be understood now that if no detail cards are listed, relay RSEZS will be energized and the normally closed RSE'ESd contact. in the pickup circuit of relay R28 will open. Therefore relay R28 cannot be energized and a circuit cannot be completed to relay RIB tolist the heading cards because of the normally open contact R28 1 (Fig. 5a).

It is a further object of the control circuits just described to suppress skippingand ejection of the form if no detail cards are listed.

As previously described, a circuit is completed to energize the MI shunt hub (Fig. 5b) and relay R53 to condition the machine to take a total cycle when the special X perforation in the heading card was sensed at the upper brushes UB, said circuit involving the normally open contact RS 26a (Fig. 5c) The pickup coil of .relay RSEZG (Fig. 5'0) is energized each time a detail card is listed. Thus, if the pickup coil of RSEZG is not energized indicating that no detail cards have been listed, the normally open contact RSEZiia will remain open to prevent the pickup of relay R53 and prevent a total cycle. Consequently the previously traced circuit for skipping from the minor total indicated at T (Fig. 2) to the first printing line of the heading on a total cycle will not materialize in the absence of detail listing.

It should also be mentioned that when the X perforation of the first heading card is sensed, a circuit will be completed to the socket 788 (Fig. 5c) pickup coil of relay RSEZI, wire 5% and line 32!. The bold circuit for relay RSEZ'! involves line 32? (Fig. 5c) circuit breaker contact CBSEI, wire 5E9, contact RSEQla now closed, hold coil of RSEZl', wire 588 and line 321. The energize.- tion of relay RSEBI causes the normally closed contact RSEZlc (at the upper left in .Fig. 5c) in the test circuit to open to prevent testing the heading cards.

If no detail cards are listed, ejection will not materialize due to the fact that relay RSE25 (Fig. 5b will be energized and the normally closed contact RSEBSd (Fig. 5a) in the ejection circuit will open.

In addition to the patents referred to hereinbefore, reference may be made to the disclosure in the Mills et al., Patent No. 2,531,885, SerialNo. 689,854, filed on August 9, 1945.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental .novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred'emsediment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions .andzchanges inthe form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing. from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a record card controlled machine 05 the class described, card feeding devices, electrical card densing devices for sensing item data and date data on the card while it is in motion, sheet feedingdevices, printing mechanism, means under control of said card sensing devices for adjusting said printing devices to record items of data on said sheet, a comparing unit comprising two sets of settable relay devices, means for selectively timing the energization of one set of settable relay devices to represent selected date numbers, means under control of said card sensing means for energizing the other set of settable relay idevioes to represent date numbers, comparing instrumentalities co-operating with both sets of settabie relay devices and adjusted thereby into one of two conditions according to the comparison of date numbers of the cardsand a selected date number. the first of said conditions representing an equal or high card condition, the second condition indicating a low card condition, means for 21 cards, sheet feeding devices, printing mechanism, means under control of said card sensing means for adjusting said printing mechanism to record item data and heading data on said sheet, a comparing unit comprising two sets of settable devices, means for selectively adjusting one set of settable devices to represent date numbers, means under control of said card sensing means for adjusting the other set of settable devices to represent date numbers, comparing instrumentalities co-operating with both sets of settable devices and adjusted thereby into one of two positions according to the comparison of date numbers of the cards and a selected date number,

the first of said positions representing an equal or high card condition, the second position indicating a low card condition, means for causing the operation of said printing mechanism to record item data on said sheet when said comparing instrumentalities are in said second position, means for suppressing the operation of said last named means when said comparing instrumentalities are in said first position, and means effective to cause said printing mechanism to print heading data under control of a heading card, said last named means including a device conditioned, upon operation of said printing mechanism to print item data, to render the same effective, said device being adapted to suppress operation of said printing mechanism to print heading data when not conditioned by the printing of item data.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein printing is effected on a sheet divided into forms, each form having a series of separate print receiving areas, and including means for feeding said sheet to space the lines of print in said areas, means for controlling said line spacing means to skip from one area to the first line of the next area, means for long feeding said sheet form to form, means effective to cause said line space skipping means to operate under control of a heading card, said last named means including a device conditioned, upon operation of said printing mechanism to print item data, to render the same effective, said device being adapted to suppress operation of said line space skipping means when not conditioned by the printing of item data, and means effective to cause said long feeding means to operate under control of a detail card, said last named means including a device conditioned, upon operation of said printing mechanism to print item data, to render the same effective, said device being adapted to suppress operation of said long feeding means when not conditioned by the printing of item data.

a. In a machine for printing on inverted forms with detail lines followed by heading lines, means for entering detail and heading data successively, means under control of said entering means for printing said data, means for preventing the printing of detail data of a certain kind, and means under control of said preventing means for further preventing the printing of related heading data if all the related detail data is of the same rejected kind.

5, A machine of the kind set forth in claim 4 with form feeding devices including line spacing and long feeding means, means for operating said line spacing means successively to skip from detail to heading portions, means for controlling said long feeding means to eject one form and bring the next form to the first printing line, and means under control of said print preventing 22 means for also preventing operation of said skip and long feed means to retain a form in position when neither detail nor heading data are printed.

6. In a recording machine controlled by records with indicia identifying merchandise and order date therefor, means for feeding said records, means for sensing said indicia while a record is being fed, means under control of said sensing means for printing the data of certain records, means for setting up a pre-selected date, including pluggable electrical emitter devices synchronized with said sensing means, comparing relay devices between said sensing means and said setting means for determining which records bear order dates the same as or later than said preselected date, and means under control of said comparing devices for suppressing said printing means to prevent printing from records with order dates the same as or later than said preselected date.

'7. In a recording machine for printing item data and related date data comprising day, month and year identifications, means for automatically entering into the machine electrically separate details of item and date data, means under control of said entering means for printing certain of said details, means including relay devices for setting up electrically a pre-selected date by timing the energization of said relay, including a common pluggable emitter with twelve contact spots and said relay devices selectively connected thereto representing day, month and year selections, comparing devices connected to said entering means and other related relay devices for comparing each entered date with the pre-selected date to determine if the entered date is the same, earlier, or later than, the preselected date and means under control of said comparing devices for preventing the printing of details with dates the same as or later than the pre-selected date.

8. In a recording machine for printing item data and multidenomination numbers representing the classification of the items, means for automatically entering into the machine electrically separate details of item and related number data, means under control of said entering means for printing said details, means including relay devices for setting up electrically a pro-selected multidenominational number by timing the energization of said relay devices, including a common pluggable emitter with digital contact spots and said relay devices selectively connected thereto for the different denominational values of said pro-selected multidenominational number, comparing devices connected to said entering means, other relay devices associated with said timed relay devices and said comparing devices for comparing each entered classification number with the pro-selected number to determine if the entered number is less than, equal to, or greater than the pre-selected number, and means under control of said comparing devices for dis abling said printing means selectively according to the result of the comparison.

9. In a device for comparing a record having digit indicium in a record column of index points with an indicium set up in an emitter, means for sensing the record column, a digit selecting emitter operated in synchronism with said sensing means and with contact spots agreeing in number and position with said index points, a first relay connected selectively to one of said contact spots, a second relay connected to said sensing means, said second relay being held through normally open contacts of said first relay, a third relay in a series circuit with a normallyopen contact of said first relay and a normally closed contact of said second relay, whereby when there is equality both first and second relays are energized but not the third, when there i is a high record condition the second relay is not held up but the first and third are energized, and when there isa low record condition all three relays are energized, and means including contacts .of the secondand third relays for exercising control when the indicium on the record is lower in value than the digit set up.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 with a plurality of sets of three relays for plural ordered 15 comparisons, and a test circuit with all second and third relays of all sets controlling contacts Wired in series for a plural ordered test of whether sensed indicia are lower in value than digits set up.

HENRY A. REITFORT.

aEFEnENeEs curse The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,957,193 Armbruster May 1, 1934 1,965,981 Lake July 10, 193% 2,016,709 Eichenauer Oct. 8, 1935 2,230,129 'Bryce Jan. 28, 1941 2,238,873 Nelson Apr. 15, 1941 2,359,670 Page Oct. 3, 1944 2,442,970 Carroll June 8, 1948 2,480,780 Sens-Olive Aug. 30, 1949 

